The prosecutor also suggested Hobbs may face a life sentence if convicted under Washington’s “three strikes” law. Hobbs was previously convicted of robbery and kidnapping, violent crimes which could count as “strikes” against him if he is convicted in the current case.

Just after 8 p.m. on Dec. 12, Hobbs attacked several people at the intersection of Broadway and East Pine Street, a busy corner at the heart of Capitol Hill, a Seattle Police detective told the court. Witnesses reported the attacker – later identified as Hobbs – was swinging his knife at pedestrians while yelling; Hobbs slashed one man in the face as officers responded to the scene.

The first officer arrived to find Hobbs standing with a knife in his hand at the center of a throng of onlookers, the detective continued. According to charging documents, the officer held Hobbs at gunpoint as he continued to ignore her commands.

Hobbs ran away and then doubled back, charging at the officer, the detective told the court. He then stopped and threw the knife toward the officer.

Other officers arrived and Hobbs was taken into custody after being shocked with a Taser stun gun. After being taken into custody, Hobbs purportedly told police he had recently smoked “sherm,” a slang term for the hallucinogenic drug PCP.

Numerous witnesses came forward to describe the incident and point officers to the man whom Hobbs slashed, the detective told the court.

The injured man told police he was walking past Hobbs, who flicked him in the ear as he passed by. The man said he told Hobbs to back away from him, and was then slashed in the face.

The man later received five stitches to close the wound to his face.

Two other alleged victims told police Hobbs accosted them for no reason.

“Who wants to take me on!” Hobbs yelled before slashing toward each with the knife, according to charging documents.

Hobbs has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault. He remains jailed on $750,000 bail.